Psalm 40:8 “I desire to do your will, my God;
your law is within my heart.”
Once again we have a Psalm in which every verse cries out for meditation, but then, that is a characteristic of good poetry: compressing deep meaning in a few words. This verse gives the secret to joy for the person whose heart is turned toward God, but it wouldn’t apply to someone who is in rebellion against God. Those who seek God, who desire to be His children, indeed store up His law in their hearts, as it so famously says in Psalm 119:11. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” For such a person, knowing they are doing God’s will is indeed a major source of joy, peace, and satisfaction. We might say, “How do I know God’s will?” That’s actually pretty simple. You start by desiring to do it. Someone who doesn’t want to do God’s will, will only do it by accident, or grudgingly. The second step is by taking in His Word. The Bible is a marvelous collection of historical records of what He has done, prophecies of what He is going to do, and teaching about how to get with His program. That of course doesn’t tell us directly what we are to do in a specific situation, but it lays down some pretty clear guidelines. The last step goes back to the first: opening our heart to listen to what He will say to us, because we want to do what He says. If we live like that, we will indeed have the joy of / take joy in, doing His will.
The inscription on my father’s gravestone, and on the front of his biography, is a line from John 4: “To do the will of Him who sent me.” (John 4:34) My mother was involved in choosing that, but it is equally appropriate for her, and she shares that stone. I grew up with a magnificent example! We don’t often think of the etymology of the words we use, but “apostle” means literally, “one sent.” Since the closest modern equivalent is “missionary,” or even “ambassador,” that verse is totally appropriate for my parents. In my own case, when the Southern Baptist Mission Board personnel department people were making noises about not wanting to appoint us to Japan (they didn’t like our Charismatic leanings) my wife said, “We’d rather be Lord sent than Board sent.” Truer words were never spoken! She had felt the call to be a missionary from age 12, and by the time she was 13, knew it was to be to Japan. I first recognized my own calling at age 10, even though I forgot it for a while. At this point, after almost 44 years in Omura, we can’t imagine being anywhere else or doing anything else! The details of God’s will for us vary from day to day. Today we will be putting on a mini-concert at the group home where our newest – and oldest, at 100 – member lives, but every day is something different. The point is to stay open and obedient. When we do that, the joy does not fade!
Father, thank You for the privilege of doing Your will. Thank You for the Bible, to store Your words up in our hearts. Thank You for speaking to us and walking with us day by day, particularly when our steps are less than firm. May we indeed do Your will at all times, in every detail, for the blessing of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!
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